THE MUDLARK
UK/US, 1950, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Irene Dunne, Alec Guinness, Andrew Ray, Beatrice Campbell, Finlay Currie, Anthony Steel, Raymond Lovell, Marjorie Fielding, Constance Smith, Edward Rigby.
Directed by Jean Negulesco.
The Mudlark is a very fine film, interesting and entertaining.
Irene Dunne gives a tour-de-force performance as the ageing Queen Victoria, living in seclusion after the death of Prince Albert. Alec Guinness, near the beginning of his career, gives a very fine performance as Benjamin Disraeli, especially in a strong political speech at the end of the film. Andrew Ray was a character actor for the next forty years but this was his first film as Wheeler, the little boy who scavenged on the banks of the Thames for food, discovers a medallion with Queen Victoria’s portrait on it and is told that she is the mother of all people. He decides that he would like to visit her and gets into the palace grounds. He has an audience with her – and, according to the story, is able to persuade her to come out of seclusion. Finlay Currie plays John Brown (the role played by Billy Connolly in Mrs Brown). Constance Smith and Anthony Steel at the beginning of their careers are a young couple.
Queen Victoria had been portrayed several times by Anna Neagle at this stage. Irene Dunne portrayed the queen in her old age. Judi Dench in an Oscar-nominated performance was excellent in Mrs Brown. Kathy Bates did a rather satiric turn as Queen Victoria in Jackie Chan’s Around the World in Eighty Days.
The film was directed by Jean Negulesco, who had directed a number of thrillers at this time and was soon to move into lush Technicolor Cinemascope films like Three Coins in the Fountain. It was written by Nunnally Johnson, veteran writer at 20th Century- Fox.
The Mudlark is still well worth seeing.
1. How entertaining was this film? The nature of its charm and its values?
2. The black and white photography, style of 1950? The British background of feeling and the focus on Queen Victoria and the Victorian era?
3. The nature of the legend, the footnote to history? The presentation of the historical period, fantasy about this period? The historical facts, the human themes?
4. The title's focus on Wheeler as the mudlark? The details of his way of life and poverty in the London docks, the pickings from dead men, the gangs of boys, the finding of the medal and its impact on his trying to sell it to the broker, the fight between the boys and its being, thrown in the river?
5. Why was the medallion so important? The motherly picture of Queen Victoria and its effect on Wheeler? The panic at its being thrown into the river? His desire for the mother picture, his inability to get it? The significance of the chat with the old man who rescued him? Putting ideas into his head to see Queen Victoria? Audience response to him and his quest? How sympathetic a boy?
6. What motivated him to go to Windsor? The humour of the sequences of his being outside the walls, the gates, his ability to slip in? their telling him who it was? Was the audience glad he got inside?
7. His discovery of a different place, different people, the maids and their chatter as they cleaned the dining room? The Irishman and his talk of burning down the castle? Wheeler's hiding behind the curtains?
8. The melodrama of the discovery, the meal, Queen Victoria telling her story? Hearing the boy? The reaction of Nasby? The police? the impact on Wheeler, too strong for a young boy? The interrogation, the imprisonment, the friends disowning him and yet the boy discussing the whole project with Wheeler despite the police?
9. How well did the film present the way of life of Queen Victoria? Her personality? Her retirement and behaviour and the traditions of English royalty? As an old woman, as a women? The nature of her retirement? Her talk with Disraeli, her meals and socialising within the castle? Her fear and upset? The attempts on her life and her fear? Her petulance in her reaction with people? How accurate was Disraeli’s characterisation of the queen? Did the impressions from this performance tie in with impressions from history? Victoria's retirement as an issue for the politics of England?
10. Disraeli and his role in the film? His style and his role as a politician? His ability to handle the queen? His
exasperation at the queen and his ability to conceal this? His handling of the case of Wheeler? His investigations especially with the guard? His use of the boy in Parliament? How strong a characterisation?
11. The importance of Brown in the film? The Scotsman friend of Prince Albert? His assistance to the queen and her reliance on him? His open advice and criticism of her? His drinking and Disraeli’s and his secretary’s reaction? His kindliness to Wheeler? The humour at his dirking and advising Wheeler? Falling down the hole? Taking Wheeler to the throne room and his sitting on the throne?
12. What was the importance of the subplot of the elopement? did it contribute as regards romance? Victoria’s advice?
13. Victoria’s, forbidding Disraeli's mentioning Wheeler in parliament? Disraeli's disobedience and diplomacy?
14. The importance of Disraeli's long speech? Its content, diplomatic effect on the House of Commons? The dramatic importance of the speech filmed in one take? was it important that the second visit of Wheeler was such a coincidence? At the same time as Disraeli's plea to Victoria?
15. The effect of Wheeler's visit on Victoria? Her motherly response even though she was cross with him? Disraeli's satisfaction?
17. The satisfaction at the end when Victoria visited London? The effect on history?
18. What was the principle human value presented and explored in this film?
19. How valuable was the film in its presentation of history? Its social consent?
